Game Preview: Georgetown Hoyas vs Monmouth Hawks

Game 10: Georgetown Hoyas (6-3) vs Monmouth Hawks (6-3)

Series: Hoyas lead 2-0, last meeting in the 1983-84 season

Where/When: Verizon Center, Tuesday 730PM

TV: FS1

Line: Hoyas -8.5

In an otherwise light week of college basketball due mostly to final exams, Georgetown hosts Monmouth in what has turned into a surprisingly interesting affair.

There are two things to know about Monmouth.  The Hawks have picked up impressive non-conference wins over Notre Dame, UCLA, and USC.

Also, they have a very, ummm, active bench situation.

Check them out here and make your own conclusions:

After nearly collapsing against UNCW last weekend the big question for the Hoyas will be can the put together a full 40 minutes against Monmouth.  If the Hoyas want to make it six in a row during this current home stand, they will need to cut down on the mental lapses.  That may be easier said than done for a team with almost as many turnovers as assists nine games into the season.

Here's some basic info on Monmouth: 

Players to Watch: Justin Robinson leads Monmouth in scoring with 21.3 points per game while Micah Seaborn comes in averaging 14.7.  Both guards shoot exceptionally well from 3-point range, 42 and 43 percent respectively. Robinson is 53-of-57 from the free throw line.

Last time out: The Hawks made it two in a row with a win over Wagner.  It's been a nice bounce back for Monmouth since losing their conference opener against Canisius by giving up 96 points.

Numbers to Know:

0: Monmouth is 0-30 against the BIG EAST.

1: That's how many home games Monmouth has played through nine games this season.  It was their last game against Wagner.

81.6: Monmouth is fourth in the country in FT percentage

RPI: Thanks to those early season wins and a close loss to Dayton, Monmouth's RPI is currently 23.  Last season King Rice's team finished 178 while the top team in the MAAC - Iona - finished a very respectable 55.

Ok let's talk about the Hoyas.

Staying in the Game: L.J. Peak has fouled out in two of the last three games and three total this season.  The sophomore only fouled at once last season.  After the UNCW game coach John Thompson III seemed a bit frustrated that his starting guard was struggling to stay on the court.  Peak has been limited to 12, 19, and 17 minutes over the last three games while picking up 14 fouls and just 24 points.

JT3 on Peak's problems:  "I don't want to take away his aggression, I don't want to take away his energy, I don't want to take away his fire on defense, but we have to figure out a way to keep him on the court a little bit."

DSR Chart Climbing: Smith-Rivera needs one more 3-pointer to become the second player in program history with at least 200 (Jonathan Wallace ‘08, 240).  The senior guard needs 10 points to pass Allen Iverson for 14^th on the school's all-time list while just two assists would push DSR pass Austin Freeman into 22^nd place on the assist list.

Improvement Needed: After shooting at least 50 percent in 12 games last season, Georgetown has done so just once this season.  They accomplished that in the 86-84 loss to Duke in Madison Square Garden.  They've missed that mark in each of the past two games by one shot.

Also through nine games, the Hoyas have 133 assists to 130 turnovers.  Bradley Hayes is the biggest culprit here with six assists to 18 turnovers. 

Reason to be delusional: The Hoyas are finally in the Top 100 of the RPI thanks to a win over UNCW.  After a so-so game against the Seahawks, Hayes will be ready to sky hook his way to another double-double.

Reason to be cynical: Monmouth is a great free throw shooting team that has guards that can penetrate.  That could be a problem for a Hoyas defense that likes to foul.

Final Thoughts: The good news about losing at home to Radford is that no matter how many wins you pile up in a row, you can't overlook anybody because, well, you lost to the Highlanders.  While they may have spoiled a guarantee game at UCLA, that won't be happening at the Verizon Centertonight, despite how few people actually show up.